What We Do

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers staff at Wilson Lake manages the lake to provide benefits to the nation in areas of Flood Damage Reduction, Recreation, Fish and Wildlife Management, Water Supply and Water Quality Improvement.

The Corps manages 9,000 surface acres of water and an additional 13,000 acres of land surrounding Wilson Lake. The staff conducts dam safety inspection and maintains the dam and outlet works. Corps employees make water release changes to the Saline River in coordination with the Kansas City Water District Control Section.

Wilson Lake has three recreation areas that are managed and maintained by the Corps of Engineers. These parks include roads, utility systems, developed campsites, beaches, boat ramps, fish cleaning stations, playgrounds and picnic area.

Many of the maintenance activities are contracted to the private sector. Mowing, trash removal, fee collection, facility cleaning and painting are just a few of the activities that are performed by private contractors for the Corps.

Some other activities performed by the Corps of Engineers here at Wilson Lake include public relations, visitor assistance, wildlife food plot management, tree planting, park patrol and park maintenance.